Marking device for bobbin winding machines



Feb. 15, 1955 K. w. BALLARD 2,702,164

MARKING DEVICE FOR BOBBIN WINDING MACHINES Filed Jan. 16. 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet l 46 4'8 INVENTOR Kempt'on Wadsflsllard "MWQ MW ATTORN E Y5 Feb. 15, 1955 K. w. BALLARD MARKING DEVICE FOR BOBBIN WINDING MACHINES Filed Jan. 16. 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Kempfon h/aflallard ATTORNEXS Feb. 15, 1955 K. w. BALLARD 2,702,164

7 MARKING DEVICE FOR BOBBIN WINDING MACHINES Filed Jan. 16, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Feb. 15,1955 K. w. BALLARD 2,702,164

MARKING DEVICE FOR BOBBIN WINDING MACHINES Filed Jan. 16. 1953 4 sneets-shee4 FIG. 7.

INVENTOR [fem 0Z0 B ade Ballard l/ ATTORNEYS United States Patent O MARKING DEVICE FOR BOBBIN WINDING MACHINES Kempton Wade Ballard, Shawmut, Ala, assignor to West Point Manufactpring Company, West Point, Ga., a corporation of Alabama Application January 16, 1953, Serial No. 331,632

6 Claims. (CI. 242-1 This invention relates to bobbin winding machines, and the object of the invention is to provide such a machine with a simple device for marking the bobbins, for identifying purposes, as they are discharged from the winding machine through its delivery chute. A principal object of the invention is to provide means for marking the bobbins, which is positive in its action, and which requires no substantial alteration in conventional winding machines, in order to provide for the attachment and automatic operation of the marking mechanism.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention, will be apparent as the description herein progresses.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a winding machine of design which is now well known in the art, showing the marking assembly of this invention attached to the machine, one one side of its delivery chute.

Figs. 2 and 3 are perspective views of the delivery chute and associated parts of a well known winding machine, showing the marking mechanism of the present invention attached thereto.

Fig. 4 is an end view of the marking implement, which comprises a reservoir and a tubular plunger which extends therefrom.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the marking implement, showing in some detail the manner in which it is attached to one of the oscillating shafts of a well known form of winding machine.

Fig. 6 is a partial horizontal sectional view taken through the gear box of the Whitin-Schweiter bobbin winding machine, which is shown in the Whitin- Schweiter automatic filling bobbin winder component parts catalog issued and copyrighted in 1949, by the Whitin Machine Works of Whitinsville, Massachusetts. This view shows only those parts within the gear box as are necessary to demonstrate the means for oscillating the shaft on which my bobbin marking device, hereinafter described, is mounted, and

Fig. 7 is a front elevational view of the gear box referred to in connection with Fig. 6, likewise showing the means for oscillating the shaft referred to in the preceding paragraph, the bobbin chute being omitted in order to clearly show the parts.

The desirability of marking wound bobbins is well understood by those familiar with the art. In general,

it has been found to be necessary to mark wound bobbins in some way, to indicate the kind or count of the yarn, and also to identify the particular machine on which the bobbin was wound, or the department of the factory from which it originated.

It has long been the custom to mark products of various kinds, in factories, at some stage of their production and for purposes of identification. Quite often, such marking is accomplished in a chute or conveyor through which the articles pass, by the use of printing rollers, coloring wicks and the like. In some instances, reliance is placed on the movement of the article being processed, past a stationary marking wick, or the like. In other instances, more positively acting means is employed, to print an identifying mark on the article. In the present invention, concerned with the marking of bobbins, I have provided a very positive means for marking the bobbin, while it is held stationary in the delivery chute of a winding machine, the means comprising a positively moved plunger which engages the stationary bobbin, and while pressing it against an opposite wall of the chute,

2,702,164 Patented Feb.- 15, 1955 ICC wall of the delivery chute, and which has a marking end which engages the bobbin and applies an identifying mark thereto. For purposes of actuating the implement, all that is required is the provision, on any well known wind- 1 ing machine, of means to attach the marking implement to a conventional oscillating shaft, which-will serve to move the implement into and from the chute, in timed relationship with the other operations which the winding machine performs, and which are well known to those skilled in the art.

I have shown the marking assembly of the present invention attached to a well known winding machine known as the Whitin-Schweiter," the construction and operation of this machine being well known to those skilled in the art. The particular design of -such machine which I disclose. in the drawings, is shown in the "Whitin Machine Works Catalogue of 1949," which is identified as Whitin-Schweiter Automatic Filling Bobbin Winder Component Parts Catalogue. In particular, the winding machine is disclosed in detail on page 3 of this catalogue.

Referring to Fig. 1, this well known winding machine is shown as comprising the usual magazine M, the upper chute 10, the gear box B, and the lower delivery chute 12. A bobbin in the process of being wound is shown at 14, and as will be understood by those skilled in the art, when the winding of the bobbin is completed, the chucks which hold the bobbin separate, and the wound bobbin drops head first into the chute 12. When the bobbin reaches the lower end of the chute, it is momentarily held stationary against the chute outlet door 16, while the yarn trailing from the wound bobbin is severed, in preparation for the discharge of the bobbin from the chute. The precise means which are employed in this machine for winding the bobbin, and for cutting the tail thereof, are well known in the art and are not described in detail here. On this type of existing machine, there is an oscillating shaft 18 which extends along one side of the delivery chute 12, and which oscillates back and forth through an acute angle, in timed relationship with the operation of the other parts of the winding machine, and while the tail is being cut, as previously referred to. I have used this existing shaft, as the means on which the marking assembly of the present invention is mounted.

Referring tov Figs. 2 and 3, it will be observed that the delivery chute 12 has top and bottom walls, and spaced side walls, and in one of the side walls of the delivery chute and on that side where the existing shaft 18 is positioned, I provide an opening 20. This opening is located adjacent to the outlet of the chute.

Referring to Fig. 5, the marking implement comprises a spherical reservoir or bottle 22, and a tube 24 which extends inwardly from the lower end of the reservoir. Of course, the reservoir may be made of any suitable material, such as glass, plastic or metal, but a transparent glass or plastic reservoir and attached tube, are preferred. The reservoir has an upwardly extending inlet as at 26, which may be closed by a conventional stopper 28. The end of the tubular portion 24 of the marking implement may be closed by any suitable material which will absorb the coloring matter or dye, and apply it to the yarn on the wound bobbin. In Fig. 5, the end of the tube is shown as being closed by a marking plug 26 which may be made of sponge rubber. The marking assembly, as just described, is attached to the oscillating shaft 18 by a suitable bracket. In Fig. 5, this attachment is shown as comprising an upper bracket member 30 which is bent around the shaft 18 as at 32, the end of the member being bent back upon itself and secured as by a bolt and nut connection, indicated at 34. There is a lower spring-like bracket portion 36 which is attached to a lower horizontal flange 38 of the bracket portion 30, by a similar bolt and nut connection 40. This lower portion 36 is of the configuration shown in Fig. 4, having a fiat top, and opposed ends bent inwardly as at 42. These ends are further bent outwardly as at 44, and they are then bent in circular fashion as at 46, to

extend around the enlarged portion 24' of the tube which extends from the container or reservoir 22, as shown in Fig. 5. The terminal ends of the lower bracket portion are separated from one another, leaving an opening as at 48. With this construction, the tubular por-' .tion 24' of the container 22 may be pressed upwardly -mitting the removal of this container when necessary for re-filling, cleaning or the like. The tubular portion 24' of the container may be provided with a stop shoulder 50 to assist in properly positioning the container and the marking implement in the bracket. The upper portion 30 of the bracket is likewise made of resilient sheet metal, of sufficient rigidity to support the container on the oscillating shaft 18, and it will be apparent that the entire bracket may be adjusted around the shaft 18, and then secured by tightening the nut and bolt arrangement 34, when the assembly is properly positioned on the shaft to carry out effective marking of the wound bobbins in the chute 12.

As is well understood in the art, and as referred to, for instance, in Patent No. 2,501,106 to Theiler, March '21, 1950, these winding machines are provided with suitemployed in the Whitin-Schweiter catalog of 1949, as referred to above. In Fig. 6, the cam shaft drive gear of this machine is shown at 205, and the rotating bobbin carrier chute cam is designated 207. The cam 207 in its rotation causesthe scissors swing arm stud 155 to oscillate back and forth, this stud having'secured thereto the bobbin carrier cam roller arm 156, with its cam roller 159, which is actuated by the track in the earn 207 to oscillate the stud 155-.

The oscillation of the stud 155, rocks the lever 713 back and forth, this lever having at the upper end thereof (not shown) the cam roller which operates the Well known tail cutting mechanism of this machine. The oscillating movement of the lower end of the lever 713, serves to similarly oscillate a right-angle lever 663 which is rigidly secured to the shaft 18, the connecting rod 711 being' pivoted at its ends to levers 713 and 663, and generally extending beneath the bobbin chute (which is omitted in Fig. 7). Thus, the shaft 18 is oscillated back and forth, to a degree necessary, and in timed relation, with the parts properly adjusted, to advance and retract the bobbin marking mechanism, as previously described, to mark a bobbin when it is at rest, at the lower end of the bobbin delivery chute.

It will be understood that various changes may be made in the construction shown herein, without departing from the invention as defined in the claims.

able means automatically coordinated in timed relationship with the general winding operations of the machine, to move the chute door 16 between closed and opened positions. As indicated in the patent referred to, the bobbin, after being wound, passes downwardly through the chute 12 and is brought to rest against the door 16, at which time the tail of the yarn trailing from the bobbin is severed, by automatic mechanism well known in the art, and which forms a part of the Whitin- Schweiter machine to which the present invention is applied. Figs. 2 and 3 disclose a design of such mechanism, including the door 16, and the associated operating parts of this winding machine, including the bobbin carrier arm 52 and its stop 54, and the bobbin plunger cam 56. In Fig. 2, the door 16 is shown near its elevated position, which position leaves the outlet of the chute exposed, and this view illustrates the condition of parts after a wound and marked bobbin has been delivered from the chute. It will be observed that the shaft 18 is oscillated through an angle, whereby the plunger 24 of the marking implement is near its outermost position, withdrawn from the opening 20 through the side wall of the'chute 12.

Fig. 3 shows the marking position of the plunger 24. When a bobbin is wound and released from its chucks, it drops head end first downwardly through the chute 12, at which time its forward end contacts the closed door 16, whereby it is brought to rest in the chute adjacent the outlet thereof. At this time, the shaft 18,

by suitable mechanism well known in the art, is oscillated in a direction to positively move the plunger inwardly through the opening 20, and the wick or absorbing stopper 26, which is permeated with the marking fluid or dye, is caused to engage the end of the bobbin with positive force, to impress an identifying mark thereon. forces the bobbin against the far wall of the chute, whereby the bobbin is restrained against further movement, thus providing for the impressing of a positive mark on the yarn. I have found that this positive mechanism for marking the bobbins, is much more effective than the ordinary wiping action of saturated wicks or the like which depend for their action on the movement of the bgbbin or other article as it falls through a delivery c ute.

As previously indicated, I do not claim as my invention the conventional parts of the Whitin-Schweiter machine as referred to, and disclosed herein. I have shown my bobbin winding device, as attached to the existing oscillating shaft 18, of this well known bobbin winding machine.

However, Figs. 6 and 7 disclose the conventional and well known parts of this winding machine, as necessary to indicate the manner in which the shaft 18, which carries my bobbin marking device, is oscillated. In referring to the parts which oscillate the shaft 18, I have used the same numerals for corresponding parts, as are In Fig. 3, it will be noted that the plunger 24 1. Apparatus for marking bobbins as they are delivered from a winding machine, comprising a delivery chute attached to extend downwardly from the winding machine, said chute having a bottom wall and spaced side walls and terminating in a delivery outlet, one of said side walls being provided with an opening adjacent said outlet, 2, door for said outlet which is operatively connected with the winding machine for movement between positions to close and open said outlet in timed relation with the operations of the winding machine, a bobbin marking assembly mounted adjacent said chute comprising a marking implement positioned for movement through said opening and having a forward end carrying a quantity of marking dye to contact and mark a wound bobbin in said chute, and means coordinated in timed relation with the operations of the winding machine for projecting said implement inwardly through said opening to engage and impress an identifying mark on a wound bobbin when the latter is held in stationary position in said chute adjacent said outlet by the closing of said door, said last-named means being constructed and arranged for retracting said implement to release the marked bobbin when said door is moved to the position to open said outlet.

2. A construction in accordance with claim 1 wherein said marking implement comprises a tube filled with marking fluid which is positioned for movement through said opening and which has a marking wick at its forward end. and a reservoir for receiving the marking fluid mounted on the outer end of said tube and outside of said chute.

3. Apparatus for marking bobbins as they are delivered from a winding machine, comprising a delivery chute attached to and extending downwardly from the winding machine, said chute having spaced side walls and terminating in a delivery outlet, one of said side walls having an opening therein, means associated with said chute for stopping the movement of successive wound bobbins in their passage through said chute and holding them stationary at a position opposite said opening and for thereafter releasing each bobbin for delivery through said outlet, a bobbin marking assembly mounted adiacent said chute comprising a marking implement positioned for movement through said opening and having a forward end provided with means to contact a Wound bobbin and press it against the opposite wall of said chute to thereby impress. an identifying mark on a wound bobbin in said chute, and means coordinated in timed relation with the operations of the winding machine for projecting and retracting said implement through said opening to successively mark the wound bobbins as they are stopped in their movement through said chute.

4. A construction in accordance with claim 3 wherein said means for stopping the bobbins in said chute is a door which is positioned to cover said outlet, and wherein said door is provided with means coordinated in timed relation with the operations of the winding machine to move it from and toward a position where it covers said outlet.

5. Apparatus for marking wound bobbins, comprising a delivery chute having an outlet end and an opening through one of its walls adjacent said outlet, means associated with said chute for holding successive wound bobbins in stationary position in said chute adjacent to said openings, a shaft mounted along one wall of said chute, means for oscillating said shaft, and a bobbin marking assembly attached to said shaft for oscillation therewith. said assembly comprising a container for marking fluid and a tubular marking implement extending from said container in a position to pass through said opening during the oscillation of said shaft, said extension having a forward end provided with means to absorb the marking fluid and apply an identifying mark to a wound bobbin in said chute when it is held in stationary position and pressed by said extension against the wall of said chute opposite said opening.

6. A construction in accordance with claim 5 wherein said marking assembly includes a bracket which is fixed to said shaft, and wherein said container and its marking implement are removably carried in said bracket.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,389,859 Lambert Nov. 27, 1945 2,404,462 Schlums July 23, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS 556,949 Great Britain Oct. 28, 1943 

